Christmas rail commuter party recreated 45 years on
BBCA Christmas party thrown for rail commuters 45 years ago has been recreated by the BBC.
The original event, on the line from Oxted, in Surrey, to Victoria, in London, was the brainchild of advertising executive Pauline Brooker and secretary Jill Sykes.
Champagne, sherry, mince pies and sausage rolls were served on the 08:05 GMT service for the party which featured on BBC current affairs programme Nationwide.
Earlier, BBC Breakfast took to the rails to see if 21st Century commuters would join in with the same enthusiasm.
To help things along, the Oxted and Limpsfield Choral Society were drafted in to try to get a singalong started.
Helen Sanderson, from the society, said: "We just need to spread some enjoyment, some happiness and some love."
BBC Breakfast reporter Jayne McCubbin described Surrey's current commuters as "more observers than participants", as she had difficulty finding takers for her mince pies.
However she was able to find one passenger who thought it was "the best time of the year".
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